Chapter 617
Release from Prison
Day 13.
Chen Ji's days suddenly became peaceful.
Every morning, upon waking, he would first draw a tally mark on the wall to record how many days he had been imprisoned in the Censorate. Then, he would squat in the courtyard, brush his teeth with willow twigs and salt brought by a minor official, and then lean against the doorframe to wait for mutton buns.
Lord Bailong arrives every day as promised, bringing a newspaper, and leaves after winning forty more games of chess, no more, no less.
On the twenty-first day, Chen Lizun brought Xiaoman a change of clothes and a lacquer box. The box had three layers: a layer of pastries, a layer of candied fruit, and a layer of melon seeds and pine nuts.
On the thirty-first day, Bai Long brought news that the minor officials dispatched by the Three Judicial Offices had returned to the capital, and the Ministry of Justice had submitted the exoneration files of Prince Jing's treason case and Qing Wentao's treason case to Renshou Palace, but Renshou Palace remained silent for a long time.
On the forty-second day, an imperial edict was issued from the palace, exonerating Qing Wentao, posthumously granting him the title of Marquis of Jingbian, the posthumous name of Wulie, and ordering the construction of a cenotaph outside Guyuan City, where he was also enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
The Ministry of Rites drafted the sacrificial text, the Hanlin Academy wrote the inscription, and an imperial envoy was dispatched to Guyuan to read it aloud.
Eighteen years ago, when Qing Wentao was beheaded, the border troops of Guyuan knelt outside the city for a day and a night. After the beheading, every household in Guyuan burned paper money at their doorsteps for three days.
The street was white, not from snow, but from ashes.
The exoneration of the Guyuan border troops and Deng Huo, which they had waited eighteen years for, was ultimately eighteen years too late.
On the forty-third day, Minister of War Wang Daosheng submitted a memorial, stating that Qing Wentao and Prince Jing had plotted rebellion, and that the two cases stemmed from the same source; therefore, they should be tried and sentenced together to demonstrate the court's fairness. The memorial was submitted, and His Majesty remained in court for three days without any response.
On the forty-fifth day, six officials from the Ministry of Personnel jointly submitted a memorial.
On the forty-sixth day, the thirteen censors of the Censorate jointly submitted a memorial.
On the forty-seventh day, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review resubmitted the case files for exoneration.
On the forty-eighth day, Emperor Ning issued a vermilion edict.
Another imperial edict was issued from the palace: Prince Jing was exonerated, posthumously granted the title of Prince Jingxian, with the single character "Xian" in his posthumous name, and was granted the honor of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Just like the posthumous title 'Wenzheng', which represents the highest pursuit of a civil official in his life. The posthumous title of 'Xian', which consists of only one character, is the highest honor for a prince, meaning a person who is extremely intelligent, of extremely high moral character, close to a sage, has made great contributions to the country, and has perfect virtue.
Those who received the posthumous title 'Xian' were mostly founding princes or members of the imperial clan who made the greatest contributions.
Wu Xiu was imprisoned in the inner prison and sentenced to death with reprieve.
The west wind banished him to Lingnan.
Everyone else had found their way, except for Chen Ji. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about him, and no one mentioned what to do with him.
As night fell, it seemed that he was the only one left in the vast Censorate.
Chen Ji lay on his back on the cold blue bricks, gazing at the moonlight framed by the gray-tiled eaves, not knowing how long he had been watching.
As the patrolling official passed by the gate with a lantern, he vaguely heard various voices coming from inside: "Emei Peak, still shining alone, quite romantic!"
"The two capitals and thirteen provinces are on my shoulders. It is not your place to speak of the people under heaven!"
"I'll hurt your mother's head!"
"Sunflower acupoint hand!"
"Yuan Fang, how do you see?"
"What goes around comes around."
"Excuse me, I'm a police officer."
"Ah Wei is dead. You chose this idol, didn't you!"
"He's gone mad! Viscount Wu Xiang has gone mad!" The clerk's expression changed, and he slipped away with his lantern.
……
……
The seventh day of the twelfth lunar month in the thirty-second year of the Jianing era.
The fifty-fourth day.
Chen Ji stood by the water vat, dressed in thin clothes, looking at his reflection in the water. His hair was messy, covering half of his face, and he had even grown a lot of beard.
Suddenly, snowflakes began to fall, disturbing the surface of the water.
A ripple spread across the water's surface, seemingly crushing his face before slowly gathering back together.
Chen Ji looked up and saw a torrential snowfall falling from the sky, fluttering down like someone tearing an old book apart in the air.
The eaves, walls, stone tables, and chessboards of the Censorate were all turning white. First, a thin layer covered the original color of the blue bricks, then it grew thicker and thicker, smoothing out all the sharp edges.
Chen Ji stood still.
Snow fell on my shoulders, on my hair, on my eyebrows.
The snow in Los Angeles was like that too, falling in large flakes, covering Anxi Street in white. Back then, he, She Dengke, and Liu Quxing got up early in the morning to shovel snow, but after shoveling for half a day, another layer of snow had fallen.
Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Bai Long pushed it open. He saw that Chen Ji was covered in a layer of snow: "What are you doing standing here?"
Chen Ji suddenly said, "Thank you, Lord Bailong."
Bai Long sneered, "Why should I thank you?"
Chen Ji grinned and said, "The Censorate deliberately locked me in the loneliest corner to drive me crazy. Fortunately, Lord Bailong comes every day, so I'm not so bored... Lord Bailong comes every day, is that why?"
The traces are clear.
When a person is imprisoned in solitary confinement, he will begin to feel agitated and anxious after twelve hours.
On the third day, my sleep became disordered, my sense of time disappeared, I forgot how many days had passed, and I became sensitive to sound and light.
The auditory hallucinations started on the seventh day.
After the fourteenth day, memory began to decline, and the person could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion.
Thirty days later, they become emotionally numb, lose the desire to speak, and suffer irreversible damage.
This is a common interrogation method in modern warfare. The Qi family probably originally wanted to use this method to destroy him silently, but they just happened to run into Bai Long, who came every day.
Bai Long said calmly, "There's no need for unfounded speculation. I've just finally found someone who won't get angry even if he loses forty games a day."
Chen Ji took the mutton bun from the other person: "Is there any news from the palace? When can I leave?"
Bai Long brushed the snow off the stone bench and sat down: "Tomorrow is your engagement to the Qi family."
Chen Ji was somewhat dazed.
So tomorrow is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. I've been imprisoned in the Censorate prison for so long.
Bai Long continued, "The Qi family has been spreading rumors lately. First, they are trying to smear you, saying that you are unfaithful and heartless, causing Miss Qi to cry every day. Second, they are spreading rumors about the section on broken engagements in our dynasty's laws, suggesting that they plan to exile you to Lingnan after you break off the engagement."
Chen Ji took a bite of his steamed bun: "What does this have to do with whether I get out or not?"
Bai Long looked up at him: "Chen Lizun and Zhang Zhuo have always wanted to submit a memorial for you, but not now. They both know that you will not marry Miss Qi. To avoid being exiled to Lingnan, they simply want you to stay in the Censorate prison to wait out the engagement. The two of them have agreed that after tomorrow, they will go to the palace together to plead for you."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "I see. That's a good idea."
Bai Long then changed the subject: "But this matter is not so simple. I heard that early this morning, officials from the Ministry of Rites were waiting outside the Meridian Gate to submit a memorial, saying that your prison break was justifiable and hoping that His Majesty would be lenient in his punishment."
"The Ministry of Rites?" Chen Ji stroked his stubble. "The Qi family?"
Bai Long hummed in agreement and said calmly, "Many officials from the Ministry of Rites have gone, presumably intending for His Majesty to release you today to fulfill the marriage agreement. You should make plans early, in case he releases you today, what will you do tomorrow?"
Chen Ji lowered his head and ate his steamed bun: "No one has pleaded for me for so many days. With such a loyal minister as my weapon, His Majesty will not let me go. I don't believe the Qi family can send me to Lingnan with a marriage contract."
Bai Long glanced at him sideways: "Do you really not have even a shred of Miss Qi in your heart? If you ask me, Miss Qi is deeply in love, so it wouldn't hurt for you to marry her."
Chen Ji shook his head, about to say something, when he heard footsteps outside the door again. The courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open, and the snow was swept into the air by the wind.
Changxiu led four Jiefan Guards into the courtyard. When he saw Bailong, he pretended to be surprised and said, "So Lord Bailong is here too."
Bai Long nodded slightly.
Chen Ji's gaze fell on the ochre-yellow scroll in Chang Xiu's hand; the imperial edict had arrived.
Changxiu smiled and said, "Viscount Wuxiang, receive the decree!"
Chen Ji, his long hair disheveled, lay prostrate on the snow: "Your subject, Chen Ji, receives the imperial decree."
Changxiu unfurled the scroll, her voice clear and bright, and read aloud word by word: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Viscount Chen Ji of Wuxiang, a nobleman, disregarded the law, trespassed into the inner prison, and abducted a serious criminal. Such actions are utterly contemptuous of the law and his crime is unforgivable. However, considering his past merits and demerits, including his heroic rescue of the Emperor in Guyuan, his effective training and discipline within the Imperial Guards, and his dedication to establishing a public service in the capital, we cannot bear to punish him."
"Therefore, the title of Viscount of Wu Xiang is hereby revoked. It is hoped that you will repent and reform, abide by the law, and not betray the court's leniency. You are hereby released from prison."
"Therefore, this decree is hereby issued and announced both domestically and internationally, so that all may know of it."
To strip someone of their title.
Chen Ji then returned to his life as a commoner.
Changxiu looked down at Chen Ji and said with a smile, "Lord Chen, thank him."
Chen Ji said loudly, "This humble subject, Chen Ji, humbly begs for Your Majesty's grace."
Changxiu rolled up the imperial edict and handed it to Jiefanwei behind him. Jiefanwei sniffed the air in the wind and snow: "Mutton buns?"
Chen Ji slowly stood up and patted the snow off his body: "Lord Changxiu has a nice nose."
Changxiu smiled and said, "Alright, Lord Chen, you should go home now. You've been in the Censorate for almost two months, and you must be eager to return home. I won't take up any more of your time."
Chen Ji casually replied, "I am now just a commoner, no longer Lord Chen."
Changxiu waved his hand: "It's alright, it's alright. With Lord Chen's abilities, his reinstatement is only a matter of time. It saves me the trouble of changing things up."
Chen Ji turned to look at Bai Long, who waved his sleeve and said, "Go home."
He nodded and was about to go back to the house to pack his things when Bailong suddenly said, "Don't take anything back here. There's nothing valuable in it. Just leave it in the past."
Chen Ji was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Indeed, everyone, farewell."
Having said that, he strode out of the courtyard and trudged through the snow into the long passageway. The walls on both sides were very high, and the snow had covered the tops of the walls white, making it look like an alley that seemed to have no end against the gray sky.
Chen Ji's footsteps were quick, his boots crunching on the fresh snow. He reached the end of the passageway, where a large, black gate stood open.
He paused at the threshold and looked back.
The passageway was deep, and the snow was falling heavily, so it was impossible to tell which courtyard he came from or how far he had gone.
He stepped across the threshold.
The wind blew against his face, carrying snowflakes that stung his skin. He squinted and took a deep breath.
It was cold, but clean.
He stood at the doorway, letting the cold air linger in his lungs for a long time before slowly exhaling. The white mist dispersed before him, melting into the snow.
Chen Ji initially walked slowly, but then walked faster and faster.
The wind rushed into his collar, but he didn't shrink back. His hair was disheveled and blew onto his face, which he brushed aside with his hand.
Turn onto Chang'an Avenue.
The streets were wider, and the snow was flying horizontally, stinging my face.
The shops on both sides of Chang'an Avenue were all closed, and the wine flags, frozen into stiff pieces of cloth, hung motionless under the eaves. A peddler carrying a load on his shoulder huddled in a corner, his load covered with an oilcloth, which had been pressed white by the snow.
Passing through the Meridian Gate.
The Meridian Gate is red, its redness standing out starkly against the snow.
The glazed tiles on the city gate tower have turned white, with only a thin line of yellow showing at the edge of the eaves.
Several guards, sheltering from the wind in the gatehouse, paused for a moment when they saw him running towards them. Chen Ji didn't even look at them, and ran past the Meridian Gate.
As Chen Ji stood in the liquor alley, panting heavily, white mist billowed from his mouth and spread out in front of him.
He rubbed his cheeks before pushing the door open and entering: "I'm back."
In the courtyard, Xiaoman was sitting on the stone steps in front of the main house, lost in thought. A young monk was chanting scriptures with his head down, a gangster was smoking his pipe in a sullen mood, and Erdao was squatting at the kitchen door peeling garlic.
Upon hearing Chen Ji's voice, Xiao Man suddenly looked up and rushed to Chen Ji in one stride: "Young Master... Young Master, you've finally come out!"
Xiaoman was initially overjoyed, but when she saw Chen Ji's disheveled hair and beard, as well as his thin figure, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
She turned to the side and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand: "Why did they lock you up for so long!"
Chen Ji smiled and said, "It's alright, we're out now, aren't we? It was just a close call with losing the title."
Xiaoman turned around and rushed into the kitchen: "Come inside and warm up first, I'll boil some water for you."
As soon as they entered the kitchen, Xiaoman burst into tears, adding firewood as she cried.
The man stood up and looked Chen Ji up and down. After a moment, he grinned and said, "It's good that you're out. I'll go get two jugs of good wine and we'll have a good drink at noon."
At this moment, Xiaoman rushed out of the kitchen again, sniffling, and pulled out two silver ingots from her belt: "Two jugs are not enough, brother, buy more, the best Shi Dong Chun from Bianyifang. Also, cut two catties of donkey meat, half a catty of pig ears and pig tails, and some pickled garlic from Liubiju... Anyway, buy whatever side dishes you want to go with the wine, don't skimp on the silver."
The man laughed heartily: "It's rare for Xiaoman to be so generous, we must drink until we drop today."
After saying that, he tapped his pipe on the ground and braved the wind and snow to lead Erdao out the door.
The water in the kitchen boiled, and Xiaoman dragged over a chair, pressed Chenji down under the eaves, and helped him apply a hot, damp cloth to his chin: "Young master, your beard is so long, let me tidy it up for you."
Chen Ji sat comfortably in the chair, his whole body wrapped in a bed sheet, while Xiao Man took a razor and shaved off his beard stroke by stroke.
While shaving, Xiaoman muttered to herself, "Everything's fine at home. Sister Xia has come several times, bringing lots of things. But I can tell she's quite angry with you. Now that you're out, young master, find a chance to apologize to her..."
"The magistrate has come twice, leaving five hundred taels of silver, and said that if there's anything, I can find him at the Censorate..."
“That little eunuch named Changxiu also came, but he only glanced at me and didn’t say anything…”
"Lord Jinzhu also came and left eight hundred taels of silver..."
"Jiaotu and Yunyang also came. Yunyang stood outside waiting but refused to come in. Lord Jiaotu gave him five hundred taels of silver; he was quite kind. However, this woman was very tactless; she kept pinching my cheeks..."
Chen Ji sat motionless under the eaves.
Watching the heavy snow fall outside the eaves in silence, I felt an immense sense of peace in the world.
Once everything was in place, Xiaoman stood opposite him holding a mirror: "Look, is it clean?"
Chen Ji praised, "Xiao Man, your skills are excellent... Why haven't Pao Ge and Er Dao returned yet?"
Just then, a nail the length of a palm flew from outside the courtyard and embedded itself directly in the lintel of the main house. A letter was also wrapped around the nail.
Chen Ji didn't read the letter. He immediately tore off the bed sheet wrapped around him and rushed out, shouting before he left, "Xiaoman, Whale Knife!"
Xiaoman tossed the whale knife leaning against the wall to Chenji. Chenji drew the knife from its sheath in mid-air, and as the blade emerged, it sliced each falling snowflake in half.
But when Chen Ji rushed out of the courtyard with his knife, the liquor alley was already empty.
Chen Ji turned to Xiao Man: "What did the letter say?"
Xiaoman pulled out the bone-piercing nail and unfolded the letter, her face grim: "Young master, the letter orders you to go to the Qi family to fetch the bride tomorrow, or else they'll kill the Pao Ge and Erdao." (End of Chapter)